pulled over - illegal exhaust -

[Rich_W]

I have a feeling that the AA will recover you if your a full member in the event of an accident.

Maybe thats changed though.

[JoeP]

I have a feeling that the AA will recover you if your a full member in the event of an accident.
Maybe thats changed though.

Really, balls. Well the Police turned up and sorted it but I'm sure I mentioned that I was an AA member.

[Dan318-is]

if your an AA member now i think they tow you to the nearest garage

i rang up an sed i willing to pay a membership fee now if u come out an tow me an they said they wouldnt

[Bob_S]

1) A tinted WINDSCREEN is illegal

not if it's standard from the factory!

2) Are they likely to find a stolen radio? Time vs possible conviction remember. And how would the statement go "I heard my car alarm and when I looked out I saw a teenager running away"

no but the fact they were not at all arsed about it, but had the cheek to pull me for a factory equipment screen!

3) If you were responsible for the RTA (which it sounds like) then they will prosecute you. They arent going to go after the victim. UNLESS it had a direct bearing on the event. So if you drove out of a give way into him, they wont care about him and will prosecute you.

I was stopped albeit over the give way line, it was a blind junction and I was taking my time getting out, like you are tought to.

Im not sure what you mean about your car being stolen. Would you expect them to tell you or wait until you call it in.

stolen from a bodyshop, the bodyshop didnt even bother telling me until a week later when i went to collect it.

The recovery bit is again, not really the Police's fault. Thats down to their subcontracted recovery firm. Now theres a bunch of shady operators!

the police didnt even come out to sit on it, just left it

[dobbie82]

was the first of the month.. police normally pull over a higher number of cars than usual, hoping to catch tax dodgers, the copper could have just said it was a spot check, law abiding citizens shouldnt mind this.

just my 2 cents worth...

[m-dtech]

driving home yesterday at 50mph in 5th gear - nice and quiet minding my own business - going home after a long days teaching, next thing flashing blue lights etc etc - i was advised (which i suppose was lucky to only be advised) that my exhaust is illegal because i have changed the bhp of the car? he let me go without much hassle at all but just felt the need to inform me that my aftermarket mongoose was against the law

god police are full of shit

[johnna]

I am full of admiration and respect for the traffic police here in co Durham- they even have the camera policy right!!!!

There are no fixed cameras in the entire county, but two mobile cameras which are sent to accident blackspots and notorious speeding sites. These sites are listed on their website and are well sign posted. Therefore people are deterred from speeding, not just caught out and 'taxed' like in other areas. (Northumbria/ North Wales etc..).
Durham have also invested in extra patrol cars and staff.
In Durham fatal rta's and serious injury rta's are falling in number.
Contrast that with North Wales.....

I've been stopped a fair few times- usually guilty of an offence (seat belt D'Oh!) or a spot check. Spot checks catch criminals. Speed cameras catch legit drivers who make mistakes.

I once drove through a temporary red light, with a Patrol car sat behind me. She followed me, checked me out then stopped me. I was questioned in a firm but polite manner. I explained the circumstances to the officer in a polite and sensible manner. I honestly thought the light was stuck and the on-coming car had flashed me through. She accepted my explanation, but asked me to a, reconsider my actions next time and b, go straight home. I did both.

Another time, I got a fine for not wearing my belt (guilty, no-one else to blame) and got chatting to the officer about my e36 coupe and his e46 330i saloon. We talked for an hour!

Like any other group of people, police officers are people!!! Therefore a mixed bag.

[bmwe30mtech]

Do you have to declare it to your insurance comapny? (to be legal!)

[325SME]

I've only had a few dealings with the police and on each occasion they've been polite and courteous. First time was a spot check while I was waiting for my mother to collect a take away. Second time was when I ran into some sheep and wrote my old 325i off and the third time was one of our Welsh meets in the summer. I pull into the car park to meet up with Simon and the guys and lo an behold there's a 530d patrol car with the pc chatting to the lads. I'm a bit suspicious coz where we were meeting is a bit of known spot for boy racers. Turns out he's a BMW owner himself and read about the meet, (and had a copy of Total BMW on the back seat of the 530D). He'd also seen my car about and made a humourous comment about hearing it before seeing (it's got a full Scorpion exhaust on it). Mow this guy turned out to be a decent bloke and it appears a lot of it is down to the individual copper, He also mentioned that patrol cars are upgraded and that they were also looking into having the 530ds remapped and the only reason they hadn't got as 535d yet was coz they're auto only. He also said the Merc C class they were using were shite and kept fragging gearboxes at 8 grand a time!!!!!

[AndyTouring]

god police are full of shit

You're taking what liam012 said as gospel.

Fact is, ALL people are full of shit if they're in the wrong.

Consider his post -

driving home yesterday at 50mph in 5th gear - nice and quiet minding my own business

It's human nature to "round down" a misdemeanor so it could well have been nearer 60mph. But give him the benefit - what if it was a 40mph limit? He doesn't say what the road is, single or dual carriage etc. Also, cars with loud pipes are not known for driving gently!

i was advised .... that my exhaust is illegal because i have changed the bhp of the car?

Note the "?". He's a bit vague here about what was actually said. Could it be "your exhaust is illegally loud."

he let me go without much hassle at all but just felt the need to inform me that my aftermarket mongoose was against the law

So his exhaust WAS the cause of being stopped.

He could have been booked for it - the officer doesn't have to give a caution.

Going by previous polls etc I've been driving for a lot longer than most on this forum & I've only been stopped twice. Read into that what you will.

[johnna]

AndyTouring:
Been stopped a lot more than that! LOL! Even been told to slow down on my mountain bike!!!!!


But I agree 100% with your sentiments, even though my exhaust is non standard, very loud and I do not rag my new e30 about. Your comments have a real ring of 'truism' about them.

If your car says 'look at me' the the police will look as well! I've had the car two months and have not explored it's acceleration or top end yet. The situation and conditions have not been right. I'm just cruising about and really enjoying it.

[rare]

The only way its Illegal is because you may not have told your insurers about it.

Other than noise, theres nothing really else they can get you for...

[OllieB]

How can firms like powerflow/longlife etc legally sell an exhaust to fit on a boy racer saxo/nova/whatever that makes it fighter jet loud? Surely they can't knowingly fit a exhaust that can deafen you at 30yds on to a road car? I have a full scorpion on my 325i which is quite loud, but not excessively so, more of a deep rumble. There are saxos near me that buzz and rasp so loudly they make yours ears ring, literally. Whats the score with that then?

[OllieB]

Artis, there are plenty of other forums that you are allowed to go on you know mate.... What is the attraction with this one?

[Ziggy]

Grow up.

How can firms like powerflow/longlife etc legally sell an exhaust to fit on a boy racer saxo/nova/whatever that makes it fighter jet loud? Surely they can't knowingly fit a exhaust that can deafen you at 30yds on to a road car? I have a full scorpion on my 325i which is quite loud, but not excessively so, more of a deep rumble. There are saxos near me that buzz and rasp so loudly they make yours ears ring, literally. Whats the score with that then?

I'd guess either it's not legal on their part, or they could just claim it's for off road use, & your responsibility if you should choose to drive it on the road?

[Simon13]

scorpions don't have a deep rumble they wail like a banshee!

very hollow sounding

[Rich_W]

From the MOT website

assess subjectively the effectiveness of the silencer in reducing exhaust noise to a level considered to be average for the vehicle

So of its a lot louder than standard it can fail an MOT

Taken from Five-0 Website (which I trust)

As long as the exhaust fitted to any vehicle has a CE mark it is legal whether that be a car or motorcycle.

The CE mark shows that the exhaust has passed the noise tests of 95dB maximum."

[psychochild187]

ive been pulled many times ive always been nice to them and always got away with things
from bald tires to no tax to ovioiuslt driving way to fast.

i dont get all upset about getting pulled as most the time my car or i prevoke it and if the cops never pulled anyone . nobody that deserves it would get booked .
i know the speed limits around my area all to well and i can drive to them spot on . ive been pulled many times for just not slowing down for corners / rounderbouts even though ive not gone over the limit round them, was hard to exsplain the mot failer sheet on the seat for the day before though( i had 2 weeks of the old one left but not with me. lol )

but the police arnt my favoit ppl and never will be. they dont understand the world that well. just there little black and white law book.

[H35-IAN]

was driving down the M62 the other day, (going a little faster than I
should have been) I passed under a bridge only to see a copper on the
other side with a radar gun laying in wait. The copper pulled me over,
walked up
to the car, and with that classic patronising smirk, asked:

"Runway too short ?"

To which I replied, "I'm late for work."

To which he asked, "What do you do?"

"I'm a rectum stretcher," I responded.

The copper was surprised and confused. "A what? A rectum stretcher??

And just what does a rectum stretcher do?"

"Well," I said, "I start by inserting one finger, then I work my way up
to two fingers, then three, then four, then with my whole hand in, work
side to side until I can get both hands in, and then I slowly but surely
stretch
the hole, until it's about 6 feet."

Then the copper asked questioningly and cautiously, "And just what do
you do with a six-foot a a**ehole?"

To which I politely replied, "You give him a radar gun and park him
behind a bridge..."

Speeding ticket: Ԛ£60.00

>Penalty Points : 3

Court costs: Ԛ£45

Look on copper's face: Priceless.

paulj that is the funnyest thing ive ever heard on the e30 zone m8 i think for that alone u should be a legend fair play to ya man thats my kinda humor lol FUK the police as Dre would say lol...........
ive just had my family in laughter over that aswell lol nice one m8.

[technoviolet]

I can't believe the shit you guys have to go through in the uk.If one of the police force over here(the gardai)pulled me over for that,you know what i would say,FUCK OFF.Your well out of your limits you prick.

[liam012]

it was me who started this thread technoviolet
i was stopped in county clare (ireland)
you must have different gardai up there in meath coz u sure as hell wouldn't get away with mouthing of like that down here...
if you are though aware of the relevant sections of the road traffic act could you let me know as i emailed the gardai and they wont help tell me which law i am breaking.
thanks
liam

[technoviolet]

it was me who started this thread technoviolet
i was stopped in county clare (ireland)
you must have different gardai up there in meath coz u sure as hell wouldn't get away with mouthing of like that down here...
if you are though aware of the relevant sections of the road traffic act could you let me know as i emailed the gardai and they wont help tell me which law i am breaking.
thanks
liam

Ok Liam,i may have overreacted a bit there.No i would'nt actually say that to them.Im not stupid but i would feel like saying it.Sorry bud,i did'nt realise you were from ireland.Whichever garda stopped you to tell you that though was being a total asshole and obviously had'nt much to be doing at the time,unless you're exhaust was very loud and you were giving it some beans which you say you wer'nt.How would he know if your hp was altered?

A garda stopped me one nite going to work about five years ago.I had a 95 honda civic lsi at the time,totally standard apart from a set of 16"alloys.
I had been doing 50mph the whole way in the road.
Conversation went something like this
Garda:You had the foot down coming in the road there,did'nt you?
Me:No,i was doing 50mph all the way garda,
Garda:Well i could hear you coming from two miles back,you were flaking it.
Me:Well it was'nt me you heard!
Garda:Then where is the car behind you(being sarcastic,there was no other car behind me)
I was looking at this guy in disbelief,i had honestly been doing 50 all the way and minding my own business.He was also making me late for work at this stage.Then he say's,
Garda:Oh,i see you have wide tyres,it must have been the sound of them i heard when you were coming in the road.Go ahead.
I just thought to myself,you wanker.

Dont get me wrong here.I do respect the gardai.They do a difficult job,are understaffed and underfunded but some of them are assholes who would'nt know one end of a car from the other!

[Richy325iTouring]

What about the modifications to the police traffic cars? they ain't standard production line models.

Actually they are standard.

The ARU's (Armed Response Units) sometimes have beefed up supension depending on the strength of the make & model.

Since when do volvo's come with aftermarket alloys and brembo's? ?:lol:

Granted the car I mention was on loan as a tester, but a good friend is a mechanic for South Wales Police, and he has told me the cars are not standard.

agree there si
bought an ex police cav v6 few years ago

pissed a lot of people off as it was running more power than the cav and cali turbos

this was supposed to be a standard car

standard v6 cav 168 bhp ex police car 200bhp cav turbo 196

[AndyTouring]

but the police arnt my favoit ppl and never will be. they dont understand the world that well. just there little black and white law book.

Oh but they do! They've heard every variation of every excuse in the book. And do you know what? no body is ever guilty of anything! Even when they know fine well they've done something wrong they'll stand there & say anything to get away with it rather than admit the truth.

When you've had to literally scrape a persons remains off the road with a shovel you'll understand their view of the world.

As for all the Zone members being stopped, the reason may well be the car they're driving.

It's a sad fact that the good old E30 is something of a favourite with chavs. The Law know this & so are always on the lookout for the scumbags in the hope of finding drugs, stolen goods etc.

However, spotting the difference between a decent upstanding Zoner in an E30 & a scumbag chav is not easy. If it looks like a chav car, sounds like a chav car & is driven like a chav car then the law will assume it IS a chav inside.

If you're stopped, be civil. If you're in the wrong admit it. Being arsey is only asking for trouble.

One other thing. How many of the people stopped & given arsey comments by the police were stopped by TRAFFIC police rather than ordinary beat bobbies?

[wayneE30]

Nice example of how a topic can get out of hand quickly.

If i remember rightly the actual topic was a question as to whether adding an aftermarket exhaust and improving horsepower was against the law, the answer to which is no. I can only presume that the person who pulled you doesn't know their construction and use regs. As for informing you're insurance it's in your interest as if you don't it invalidates your insurance and might lead to a costly repair bill if you crash and they find out. Fact is the police don't need a reason to stop anyone, if you are driving on a road they have a power to stop you. Most criminals use cars to get about so if they are stopping law abiding drivers chances are they are also stopping those who aren't so law abiding.
As for the Police bashing if it makes you feel better crack on, not too sure what relevance it has on a site like this but hey, each to their own.

well said that man

[Richy325iTouring]

One other thing. How many of the people stopped & given arsey comments by the police were stopped by TRAFFIC police rather than ordinary beat bobbies?

I have found that its the bat coppers that are the arseholes not the traffic ones

[AndyTouring]

I suspected it would be.

[AndyTouring]

agree there si
bought an ex police cav v6 few years ago

pissed a lot of people off as it was running more power than the cav and cali turbos

this was supposed to be a standard car

standard v6 cav 168 bhp ex police car 200bhp cav turbo 196

Northumbria traffic cars are all standard. They do get test cars which may be enhanced a little eg an Abbot chipped Saab 9-5, a WRX Scoobie with 300bhp+, Cossie Escorts etc.

I assume the "200bhp" from the V6 Crapalier was obtained on a rolling road session? You can't gain 30bhp (20%) from an air filter change so it must have had cams, big valve heads & a tuned exhaust to reach that. Did you tell your insurance company?

The V6's & turbo's in particular had real trouble handling the power they had never more more. NP's cars were averaging 3 boxes apiece so Vauxhall were given their marching orders. Hence all the Volvo S60's on the North East's roads.